High school football season preview: Graham-Kapowsin Eagles
The high school football season begins in early September and The News Tribune has been all over the South Sound, visiting local programs at practices before games begin. Up next, we’re previewing a handful of teams individually before the season kicks off.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles this fall.
Editor’s note: The “outlook” section for each program is pulled from the TNT’s preseason practice tour. Find the full practice tour story here, complete with insight on over 20 teams in the area, quotes, photos, videos and more.
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES
Head coach: Jeff Logan, fourth year
2024 results: 7-4, Class 4A state tournament first round
Offensive coordinator & base scheme: Jeff Logan/Greg Logan/Cameron Brophy, Multiple Spread
Defensive coordinator & base scheme: Muckie Foreman, 4-2-5
OUTLOOK
For most programs, a rebuilding season might mean a quick postseason exit or missing the playoffs entirely. For perennial state power Graham-Kapowsin, it still meant a trip to the Class 4A state tournament.
Graham-Kapowsin began the season with 14-year-old quarterback AJ Tuivaiave and had to replace a ton of production from the season before, when the Eagles played in the 4A state championship game.
Tuivaiave turned 15 midway through the season and now enters his second season as the starter. He’ll have one of the area’s best receivers to throw the ball to in junior Kase Betz, who had a breakout season as a sophomore. Betz said his connection with Tuivaiave is further along than at this point last summer.
“It’s definitely grown a lot,” he said. “Running routes, catching footballs from him in the offseason has helped a lot. Hitting routes after practice, running routes we’ve gotta work on. The chemistry is there.”
And it was there last year, in flashes. Expect an uptick from the passing game, bolstered not only by the returning experience of Tuivaiave and Betz — and 6-foot-3 receiver Jayce Halasz, who is poised for a big season — but also from an offensive line that was green last year.
“It’s huge,” Graham-Kapowsin coach Jeff Logan said. “They’re a year older, so they’re all bigger, stronger, faster. Just the cohesiveness. That’s kind of the one unit you hear as a cliche saying in football. … When we get four guys back that started for us last year, we feel extremely confident. They’ve been in the weight room, they’re hungry to show it isn’t just a skill position team.”
The line is anchored by junior 6-foot-5, 250-pound left tackle Ayden Bullinger, a TNT first-team All-Area team selection as a freshman two seasons ago. He put on 50+ pounds of weight during the offseason and looks the part again. TNT All-Area selection Douglas Peterson, the center, also returns.
Could the Eagles be on a collision course to face Sumner in a rematch of last year’s 4A SPSL league title game? Time will tell, but Graham-Kapowsin likes its chances better than last year. And once the playoffs roll around, anything other than playing in Husky Stadium will feel like a disappointment.
“State championship,” Betz said. “That’s what it is every year. That’s what the expectation is every year. That’s the standard I hold my guys to and they hold me to. It’s the culture at G-K.”
Graham-Kapowsin opens the season at home against reigning 3A state champion O’Dea, 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 at Art Crate Field.
KEY PLAYERS
QB AJ Tuivaiave, soph.
WR Kase Betz, jr.
OL Ayden Bullinger, jr.
OL Douglas Peterson, sr.
WR Jayce Halasz, soph.
DL Jeremiah Leumuava, jr.
LB Derick Manibusan, jr.
DE Quinncey Ratteray, sr.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: vs. O’Dea
Sept. 12: vs. Skyview
Sept. 19: vs. Emerald Ridge
Sept. 25: at Bonney Lake
Oct. 2: vs. Yelm
Oct. 10: at Bethel
Oct. 17: vs. Olympia
Oct. 23: at Spanaway Lake
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM.
